Spring Into Action: One Volunteer's Journey with Heifer

By Maegan Clark

October 3, 2019

Last Updated: March 21, 2012

Editor’s note: This week’s series about volunteering is to spotlight the Spring into Action events on March 24th hosted by Heifer International. Read why these volunteers have dedicated their time in helping share Heifer’s mission of ending hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. 

Hi, there!!  My name is Polly Stewart Holder, and I’m a volunteer for Heifer Project in Atlanta, Georgia.  I really love volunteering for HPI, because I know that whatever I do will make an enormous impact both on the lives of the people that I see and work with here in the Southeast and in the rest of the world.

I first learned about Heifer about five years ago this spring.  I randomly received one of the “Most Important Gift Catalogues” in the mail around the holiday season in 2006.  However, I just set it aside until later that spring.  Upon opening it up, I became quickly intrigued by the Heifer model and the focus that HPI gives to education, empowerment, advocacy and responsibility.  I was particularly impressed by Heifer’s dedication to education.  When I’m not hanging out Heifer-style, I teach in a high school.  I truly think the only way that we are going to make a lasting and global difference in eradicating poverty is through education.

Study Tour for Educators

Heifer does a great deal to support and enrich teachers such as Heifer Us, the GERKs (Global Resource Kits), the website with games/activities, and through the Study Tour for Educators.  I applied and was granted the opportunity to go to Honduras in 2007 on one of those Study Tours.  It changed my life.  I wholeheartedly believe in the Heifer model, and I believe that it is one of the only ways that we can eliminate hunger and poverty and to care for our world.  In fact, I ended up writing my dissertation on Heifer’s experiences for teachers, and I have presented about Heifer in a range of teacher conferences around the United States!

 

As a volunteer, I really love how there’s something for everyone.  HPI truly works with your strengths, and whether you prefer to raise money by taking donations for athletic events (Hoofing it for Heifer), by speaking to churches, civic groups or schools, or by hosting a consciousness raising event in your own home (12 Stones), there is something that you will enjoy!  Every person that I have met while volunteering for Heifer has been fun, smart, involved, and a joy to be around.  I think that YOU should get involved in the Atlanta area group because there are ways for you to keep learning, social events to meet people, and the opportunity to make our world a better place! Please shoot us an email at heiferatlanta@gmail.com or on our Facebook page Heifer in Atlanta for more info.